Smoke-consumer for steam-boiler furnaces.



. Patented Mar. I3, |900.. H. S..BOWLEB.

SMOKE CONSUMER FOR STEAM BOILER FURNACES.

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(Application filed May 19, 1899.)

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Nn. 645,063, Patented Mar. la, 1900. H.y S. BWLER. SMDKECONSUMER FOR STEAM BDILER FURNACES. (Appiiaeion tummy 19, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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IIEZEKIAII S. BOVVLER, OF GLOVERSVILLE, EV YORK, ASSIGNOR OF TWO- THIRDS TO JAMES F. MURRAY, OF SAME PLACE, AND MIOI-IAEL D. MUR- RAY, OF JOI-INSTOWN, NEW YORK.

SMOKE-CONSUMER lFOI? STEAM-BOILR FUFRNACES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 645,063, dated March 13, 190C. Application led May 19, 1899. Serial 170.717,487. (No model.)

T @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HEZEKIAH S. BOWLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gloversville,in the county of Fulton and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Smoke-Consumer for Steam-Boiler Furnaces, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in 1o smoke-consumers for steam-boiler furnaces; and one object is to provide novel means by which the'injection of steam may be automatically supplied when the furnace door or doors are open either for supplying additional fuel to the combustion-chamber or to stir up the iire.`

A further object is to insure the supply of steam from one of a battery of boilers to another unused boiler which it may be desired 2o to start in service, thus overcoming in a great measure the emission of smoke from the boiler in the operation of starting a fire therein.

A further object is to provide a simple and compact arrangement of devices by which steam and air may be mechanically combined before admission to the combustion-chamber and also to secure equable distribution of the streams of steam and air in the combustionchamber, so as to thoroughly commingle with 3o the smoke and gases, and thereby to attain maximum efficiency of combustion.

With these ends in view the invention consists in the novel combination of devices and in the construction and'arrangement of parts,

3 5 which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

To enable others to understand the invention, I have illustrated a preferred embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings,

4o forming a part of this specification, and in Which- Figure l is a front elevation of the battery of boilers with my improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a detail horizontal section on the plane indicated by the dotted line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional plan view through a portion of the boiler-front, illustrating the construction of the distributing devices. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section through one of the combining and distributing devices in the plane indicated by the dotted line 4 4,01:l Fig. Fig. 5 is a detail viewof the steam-spraying cap used in each of the combining and distributing devices.

The same numerals of reference are used to indicate like and corresponding parts in each of the several gures of the drawings.

In Fig. l of the drawings I have shown my improvements in connection with a battery of steam-boilers in order that the steam from a boiler in service may be conveyed to an idle boiler which it is arranged to start into use; but it will be understood that the invention is capable of use in connection with individual boilers. The front of each steamboilerl furnace is `indicated by the numeral 10,V the steam-dome at l1, and the combustionchamber at 12, and the furnace-front 10 of each furnace in the battery or series of boilers is equipped with the ordinary fuel-doors 13, which, as shown by Fig. l, are of the hinged type for convenience in opening and closing the same in order to supply fuel to the combustion-chamber Vor to stir up the fire.

The smoke-consumer invented by me contemplates the employment of an air-box 14, which is preferably of cast metal and is designed to be placed within the furnace-front l0 Vabove the arch and the doors therein. This air-box may be fastened tothe furnacefront in any suitable way; but I have shown the box as having integral flanges l5, which are fastened in place to the front l0 by suitable screW-bolts 1G. This air-box occupies a horizontal position lWithin the furnaceafront and on a plane above the arch of the combustion-chamber, so as to deliver the air to the latter through a series of distributing-pipes, and to provide for the free ingress of atmospheric air to'this box 14 a horizontal series of air-ports 17 are formed in the front lO on the plane of the air-box 14, so as to communicate directly therewith. The inner wall of the airboX is provided with aseries of threaded apertures 18, in which are screwed the front ends of a series of horizontal air-pipes 19, which are embedded in the masonry of the furnace to extend through the arch practically to the combustion-chamber. The air-pipes 19 are provided with distributer-heads 20, each of said heads being preferably cast in a single piece and fastened detachably to one of the pipes 19 by a screw-threaded joint. The distributer-head 2O is provided with an inclined top wall 21, and said head is so attached to the air-pipe 19 as to bring the mouth or opening in a plane below the longitudinal axis of the air-,pipe to which it is attached. The distributer-heads open or extend through the masonry of the arch, so as to communicate with the combustion-chamber, into which the streams of commingled steam and air are injected to increase the combustion and to etfect the consumption of the carbon in the smoke.

A steam-distributing pipe 22 is arranged in the lower part of the air-box 14 on a plane below the series oi' air-inlet openings 17 in the boiler-front, and within the horizontal series of air-pipes 19 are disposed the steam-jet pipes 23, which are coupled at their front ends to the distributing pipe 22 by means of the elbows 23a. Each jet-pipe is of small diameter as compared with the air-pipe 19, and said jet-pipe extends longitudinally through the air-pipe from the air-inlet box to the enlarged chamber provided by the distributinghead 20. By employing steam-jet pipes of small diameter arranged in the lower part of the air-pipe ample space is provided within the air-pipe for the passage of air from the box 14 to the distributing-head 20, and the steam from the distributing-pipe 22 is conveyed under pressure through the jet-pipe 23 and discharged into the chamber of the head 19, so as to set up a current of air through the port 17, the box 14, and the air-pipes 19 to the distributing-head 20. To insure uniformity in the distribution of the steam supplied by each jet-pipe and to thoroughly commingle the steam and air, I provide each jet-pipe with the sprayer-cap 24, which is screwed to the discharge end of the jet-pipe, so as to lie within the chamber of the head 20. This spraying-cap is constructed to provide outlets which break up the solid stream of steam, and in the preferred construction of the cap, as shown by Fig. 5, it is formed with transverse slots or kerfs 25 and a central aperture 2G, whereby the steam is sprayed by the cap into the tapering chamber of the distributerhead.

The steam is conveyed from the battery of boilers by means of a supply-main 27, which is arranged in front of the series of boilers constituting the battery, or it may occupy any other suitable relation thereto, and this supply-main has a series of branch pipes 28, which are attached individually to the domes 11 of the boilers in the battery, each branch pipe being provided with a stop-cock 29,which is closed when the boiler is not in use. The steam to the distributing or consuming appliances is conveyed by means of a supplypipe 30, having suitable connection with the main 27, and this supply-pipe has a branch 31, which is carried through one of the airports 17 in the boiler-front and is attached to the steam-distributing pipe 22 within the airbox 14. In this pipe 30 or its branch 31 is fitted a gate-valve 32, which may be of any suitable construction and which is shown by Fig. 1 as having a stem adapted for connection with an operating-lever 3S.

33 designates a rock-shaft which is arranged in a horizontal position above the fuel-doors 13 and is journaled in suitable bearings 34, which are fixed to the boiler-front 10, and this rock-shaft is provided at one end with a crank arm 35, said arm extending downwardly from the rock-shaft and arranged in the path of one of the doors 13. At its other end said rock-shaft is provided with an arm 36, to the free end of which arm is pivoted a link 37, having a pivotal connection with one end of the lever 38. Said lever is arranged in a substantially-horizontal position above the gate-.valve 32, and it is fulcrumed, as at 39, to a suitable support, such as to the pipe 30. The stem of the gate-valve has pivotal connection with the lever 33 at a pointintermediate the length of the latter, and with this lever is associated a dash-pot 40, which serves to regulate the speed of closing of the gatevalve. This dash-pot is similar in its general construction to devices well known in the art, and the piston of said dash-pot has its stem 41 pivoted to the lever at a point between the pivotal connection of the link 37 and the spindle of the gate-valve 32. This dash-pot is provided at a point below its piston with a petcock 42, which may be opened to facilitate the descentof the piston, and the speed of the dash-pot piston and the closure of the gate-valve may be controlled by opening the petcock more orless, as will be readily understood.

In operation the steam is conveyed by the main 27 to the series of branch pipes 30 31 and thence to the distributing-pipes 22 within the air-box. From thence the steam passes under pressure to the jet-pipes 23. The current of steam from each jet-pipe is broken up into streams by the sprayer-cap 24, and as the steam rushes through the chamber of the distributer-head it creates a .suction through the air-port and the air-box to supply the desired volume of air to the chamber of the distributer-head, whereby the air and steam are commingled before they escape from the distributer-head into the combustion-chamber. As each boiler-furnace is equipped with a series of these distributing-pipes, it is evident that a plurality of streams of combined steam and air are supplied to the furnace-chamber to commingle with the smoke and gases therein, and thus the combustion will be promoted and the carbon in the smoke will be consumed. The employment of the air-box provides an enlarged chamber, insuring a full and free supply of air to the distributer and combining devices, and when the masonry ot IOO IIO

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the arch burns out the distributer-heads may be unscrewed and their places supplied by new heads at a minimum of cost.

One of theimportant features of myinvention resides in the provision of means by which the gate-valve, which controls the flow of steam to the smoke-consuming devices is opened when the fuel-doors 13 are opened, so that on the opening of one of the doors it rides against the arm to rock the shaft 33 in its bearings, and this shaft operates the arm 36 of the link 37 to move the lever 38 in an upward direction, whereby the gate-valve is opened to supply steam to the combustionchamber on the addition of fuel thereto or for stirring up the fire, whereby the steam and air injected into the flame will consume `the carbon in the smoke. The dash-pot serves to slowly and automatically close the valve 32 for cutting off the steam; but the speed of closure of the valve may be regulated by adjustment of the petcock.

By connecting the entire battery of boilers with a common supply-inaimfrom which lead branches to the sm oke-consuming appliances of the furnace, I am able to utilize the steam from the boiler in service in connection with an idle boiler in which it is desired to start a re in the combustion-chamber. It Will be understood that when one of the battery of boilers is idle the stop-cock 29 and the gatevalve 32 should be closed; but when itis de l sired'to start a fire in the idle boiler the gatevalve 32 should be opened to permit steam to pass to the nozzles of the smoke-consuming appliance, thereby utilizing in an idle boiler the steam fromv one of the boilers in service for the purpose of promoting combustion and consuming the smoke in the boiler in which `4o` the fire has j ust been started.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and" the minor details of construction with-in the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacriiicingany of the advantages of thisinvention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is- 1 l. The combination with a boiler-front and a combustionchamber, of an air-supply box attached .to the boiler-front on the inside thereof and supplied with air through the series of ports in said boiler-front, a steam-distributing pipe housed within the air-,box on a plane below the air-ports thereto, a series of air-pipes attached to said box, a series of distributer-heads secured removably to the air-pipes and each head havinga sloping upper wall, jet-nozzles arranged`longitudinally Within the air-pipes and coupled to the steamdistributing pipe, and slotted sprayer-caps fixed to the jet-nozzles and arranged within the chambers of the distributing-heads, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a boiler-frontand a combustion-chamber, of an air-supply box attached to` the boiler front on the inside thereof, air-ports in the boiler-front communicating with the said box, asteam-distributing pipe housed within the air-box in a plane below the air-ports, a series rof air-pipes attached to the box in axial alinement with the air-ports, a series of Vdistributer-heads removably secured to the air-pipes and each head having a sloping upper Wall, jet-nozzles arattached to the boiler-front on the inside thereof, ports opening through the boiler`` front `and into the box for supplying air theref to, a steam-distributing pipe Within the airbox and below the air-ports, ya series of airpipes attached to said box, a `series of distributer-heads removably secured to the airpipe and each head having a sloping upper wall,j`et-nozzles arranged longitudinallywithof and coupled to the steam-distributing pipe, slotted sprayer-caps fixed to the jet-nozzles and arranged within the chambers of the distributer-heads, a valve in the steam-pipe, a

4in the air-pipes and at the lower sides therelever connected with the valve, and a firedoor for the furnace adapted to operate said lever to actuate the valve.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

HEZEKIAI-I S. BOWLER..

Witnesses:

MICHAEL HEAGLE, JAMEs H. PIKE.

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